Karrakatta Cemetery Karrakatta Rd Karrakatta Rd WA 6010
Cemetery Address
Karrakatta, WA
Demonination/Area
Rose Gardens
Section
Garden 26
Grave Number
0143
Notes
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN STARK BURNS 1706 RAN/RANR(S)
John Burns was born in Newcastle NSW, in July 1896 the only child of Simpson Burns and Sara Burns, nee Stark. He enlisted in the RAN as a Boy 2nd Class on HMAS Tingira in June 1912. John was advanced to Boy 1st Class in February 1913 and was rated as a Signal Boy in May 1913.
In October 1913 John joined the Battle Cruiser HMAS Australia. With the exception of two short periods in 1917 and 1918 where he was landed in the UK probably for signals courses, he would serve in Australia until March 1920. He was advanced to Ordinary Signalman 2nd Class in November 1913, Ordinary Signalman 1st Class in July 1914, Signalman in April 1915, Leading Signalman in June 1917 and to Yeoman of Signals (Local) in March 1919. His SC Certificate indicates his behaviour was always rated as Very Good and his Ability consistently assessed as Superior, and in one case excellent.
John discharged to shore in 1921, “End of Engagement” and in 1926 he married Alma Fanning and the family lived in Victoria. John joined the Merchant Navy serving as a deck officer. As a Merchant officer on an Australian Registered ship John was a Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing) commissioned officer. He qualified as a pilot for the ports of Sydney (1934) and Newcastle (1935).
He was called up for active service as a Lieutenant Commander in 1939 when HMAS Kanimbla was taken up from trade, but he returned to the Merchant Service within weeks, almost certainly because he was needed by his employer. He served on the SS Katoomba as the first mate and in January 1945 he was awarded a Commendation for “Extinguishing a fire in SS Katoomba in Port Moresby”.
Post War John moved to Perth where he was a pilot for the Port of Fremantle.
John Stark Burns passed away on the 2nd of September 1972. His body was cremated and his ashes interred in the Karrakatta Cemetery Rose Gardens – Garden 26-0143.
Possibly Burns (Sig) on the Tingira Boys Site
Sources
Service Record - Australian National Archives
Service Record - Australian National Archives
Nominal Roll - Department of Veterans Affairs
DVA Commemoration Details
